    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [December 2, 2004]
    [Pages 3033-3035]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and an Exchange With Reporters
    December 2, 2004

        President Bush. Mr. President, welcome back. It is great to see you.
    I'm looking forward to working with you over the next years to
    strengthen our relationship, to work on a prosperous continent of
    Africa, to work with you on implementing our strategy to help defeat the
    pandemic of HIV/AIDS. I look forward to our discussion today.
        I particularly want to thank the President for his contributions to
    the peacekeeping forces of the African Union. We have worked together on
    issues such as Liberia, Sudan, and other important parts of the
    continent of Africa. I look forward to a fruitful relationship, and I'm
    glad you're here. I want to welcome you, and thank you for coming, sir.
        President Obasanjo. Thank you very much, sir. Mr. President, let me
    start by congratulating you once again. And let me express our
    appreciation for receiving me and my delegation so very early in your
    preparation for the second term. Of course, you are receiving me not
    only in my capacity as President of Nigeria but also in my capacity as
    the Chairman of AU, continuing that organization.
        I'm looking forward to this meeting to consolidate what we have been
    able to do together, like you have rightly said, in the area of peace
    and security and conflict resolution in Africa, in the area of trade and
    resource flow for Africa, and in the area of fight against terrorism by
    making the world, particularly Africa, a more peaceful and a more
    conducive continent to live in, and of course in the area of security,
    stability, and availability of some of the essential resources for the
    development of the world, but the--[inaudible]--in the Gulf region of
    our continent. I'm looking forward to being able to work with you.
        President Bush. It's good to see you again, sir.
        Scott [Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press], a couple of questions.

    Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the United
    Nations

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Do you think questions of fraud in the
    U.N.'s Oil for Food Programme have hurt Kofi Annan, and do you think he
    should resign, as Senator Coleman has urged?
        President Bush. Yesterday I spoke about the United Nations. I said
    the United States participates in multilateral organizations, and we
    expect those organizations to be effective. You know, when an
    organization says there's going to be serious consequences if something
    doesn't happen, it better mean what it says.
        And on this issue, it's very important for the United Nations to
    understand that there ought to be a full and fair and open accounting of
    the Oil for Food Programme. In order for the taxpayers of the United
    States to feel comfortable about supporting the United Nations, there
    has to be an open accounting, and I look forward to that process going
    forward.
        Q. Should he resign, sir?
        President Bush. I look forward to the full disclosure of the facts,
    a good, honest appraisal of that which went on. And it's important for
    the integrity of the organization to have a full and open disclosure of
    all that took place with the Oil for Food Programme.
        Yes, Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Ukraine

        Q. Sir, should there be a new election in Ukraine, and should it be
    free of Russian influence?

    [[Page 3034]]

        President Bush. Well, I think any election, if there is one, ought
    to be free from any foreign influence. These elections ought to be open
    and fair. I appreciate the progress that is being made. I particularly
    want to again thank my friend the President of Poland, the President of Lithuania, and the EU for its involvement in helping to resolve
    the Ukrainian election crisis.
        The position of our Government is that the will of the people must
    be known and heard. And therefore, I will--we will continue to monitor
    and be involved in a process that encourages there to be a peaceful
    resolution of this issue. And you know, there are different options on
    the table, and we're watching very carefully what is taking place. But
    any election in any country must be--must reflect the will of the people
    and not that of any foreign government.
        Yes, Gregory [David Gregory, NBC News].

    Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, you're sending more troops to Iraq now. This comes
    on the heels of reports that Iraqi security forces appear to be
    underperforming, appear to be unprepared for elections in January. If
    that's the case, what would be so bad about postponing elections if
    there's the potential that those elections may be seen as illegitimate?
        President Bush. Well, first of all, the elections should not be
    postponed. It's time for the Iraqi citizens to go the polls, and that's
    why we are very firm on the January 30th date. Secondly, I have always
    said that I will listen to the requests of our commanders on the ground.
    And our commanders requested some troops delay their departure home and
    the expedition of other troops to help these elections go forward. And I
    honored their request.
        And thirdly, we are working hard to train Iraqis. And we have got
    certain benchmarks in mind. And General Petraeus is in charge of training the Iraqi troops, and the Iraqi
    ministers in charge of that are meeting the goals. And the idea, of
    course, and the strategy, of course, is have the Iraqis defend their own
    freedom. And we want to help them have their Presidential elections. And
    at some point in time, when Iraq is able to defend itself against the
    terrorists who are trying to destroy democracy--as I have said many
    times--our troops will come home with the honor they have earned.
        It's time for those people to vote, and I am looking forward to it.
    It's one of those moments in history where a lot of people will be
    amazed that a society has been transformed so quickly from one of
    tyranny and torture and mass graves to one in which people are actually
    allowed to express themselves at the ballot.
        Thank you all very much.
        Q. Mr. President. Mr. President----
        President Bush. Yes, sir.

    U.S. Role in Africa

        Q. As you march into the second term, what will Africa be looking
    forward to in terms of America's contribution to security, especially in
    the Gulf of Guinea?
        President Bush. No, I appreciate that. First of all, Africa was a
    very important part of my first term. I have met with the President--
    four or five times?
        President Obasanjo. Four or five----
        President Bush. So many times, it's hard to count.
        President Obasanjo. And at the G-8, I think about 10 times.
        President Bush. Ten times. I have met with other leaders from the
    continent of Africa a lot. I have traveled to Africa. I have made the--
    fighting the pandemic of HIV/AIDS a central part of my administration. I
    helped work to extend AGOA on the full belief that economic trade and
    the benefits of trade far exceed the benefits of direct aid. I've worked
    on a Millennium Challenge Account to help encourage the

    [[Page 3035]]

    habits of good governance. And I will continue that focus and attention
    on the continent of Africa. I think it is vital that the continent of
    Africa be a place of freedom and democracy and prosperity and hope where
    people can grow up and realize their dreams. It's a continent that has
    got vast potential, and the United States wants to help the people of
    Africa realize that potential.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:38 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to President Aleksander Kwasniewski
    of Poland; President Valdas Adamkus of Lithuania; and Lt. Gen. David H.
    Petraeus, USA, chief, Office of Security Transition--Iraq.